ugh im trying to find a solid deal for Black Friday but every site has different prices and its driving me crazy. Im stuck between getting the Canon R8 or stretching for the R6 Mark II if it actually drops under 2k. I mostly do street photography and some video for my kids soccer games so the R8 size is nice but no IBIS is a huge pain. My budget is strictly $1500 to $1600 including a lens and i need it before my trip in December. Are we actually gonna see decent bundles soon or should I just go refurbished? honestly feels like the deals are just fake markups at this point...
Ngl, finding a new R6 Mark II with glass for 1600 is a total pipe dream, even with Black Friday madness. Ive been tracking these prices for a long time and that body holds its value way too well. Technically, the R8 is almost identical under the hood, same sensor and same autofocus, but you lose the IBIS and the big battery. For your specific needs, here is how the tech actually plays out:
- IBIS is great for street photography at night when you want a slow shutter speed without a tripod.
- For your kids soccer games, IBIS wont save you. You need high shutter speeds to freeze motion, and at 1/1000s, stabilization doesnt do anything for the image anyway.
- Lens stabilization is often more effective for long telephoto shots than IBIS is alone. If you really want to stay under that 1600 mark and get a lens, look at the Canon EOS R8 Mirrorless Camera Body and grab the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM Lens. That lens has decent IS built-in to compensate for the R8 lack of IBIS. Another sleeper pick is the Canon EOS R7 Mirrorless Camera Body. It actually has IBIS and the crop sensor is better for sports because it makes your lenses feel longer on the field. It fits your budget way better than stretching for an R6 II that might not even drop that low... just my two cents after years of shooting cameras.
TL;DR: Check official refurbished stores for the best reliability and actual savings. Honestly, getting the Canon EOS R6 Mark II Full-Frame Mirrorless under $1600 with a lens is a huge stretch. I usually stick to the Canon refurb store because its safe and you get a full warranty. You can grab the Canon EOS R8 with RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM Kit there way cheaper than retail. It works great and you dont have to worry about fake holiday markups.
Ngl I am struggling with the exact same thing right now and it is beyond frustrating. Over the years I have usually been able to spot the real deals but this season is just a mess. I have been hunting for a real price drop for weeks and every site feels like it is playing games with the numbers. Honestly I am just as lost as you... still cant find a straight answer.
